Will and I did a walking tour of another neighborhood in Shanghai that has historical significance and several architectural buildings that are still there from early 20th century. We found a book last year that takes the reader on a walking journey through several parts of town and talks about not only the buildings and streets but anecdotes about people who lived and worked here. Hongkou is the last of the "concession " areas that were basically taken over and administered by British, Americans and French during turn of the century and we'll into 1900's. It's an interesting part of Shanghai history that is not surprisingly well understood by Chinese. Foreigners are most interested because it is perhaps nostalgia for them, it was prosperous time for them, not for locals. A lot of old buildings are gone, torn down in urban renewal or repurposed for housing or just plain torn down. A few have been restored. . .like this Astor House Hotel. It is the oldest Western style hotel in all China. It was built to attract the wealthiest of clients and the renovation shows its opulence.
The wood floor of the ballroom is amazing.
And Broadway Mansion which is a hotel today is equally grand. It was a luxury apartment building in its day.
There are a few of these old Queen Anne Revival apartment complexes left. This is old traditional housing, mostly replaced by hirises now. Still used as apartments but can still see the western influence.
This was, and still is a post office. Guide book wonders how all the decorative artwork and roof statues made it through the Cultural Revolution when so much of that sort was destroyed. Perhaps it was redone, I don't know.
Walked into a obviously active Methodist Church that was very nicely redone.
This was also neighborhood that was center of Japanese occupation during War time. This unassuming apartment building was headquarters.
Was a good day for a stroll through the streets soaking it all up. Busy daily life going on all around us. Lunch at an eclectic restaurant on a busy shopping street.
The wood floor of the ballroom is amazing.
And Broadway Mansion which is a hotel today is equally grand. It was a luxury apartment building in its day.
There are a few of these old Queen Anne Revival apartment complexes left. This is old traditional housing, mostly replaced by hirises now. Still used as apartments but can still see the western influence.
This was, and still is a post office. Guide book wonders how all the decorative artwork and roof statues made it through the Cultural Revolution when so much of that sort was destroyed. Perhaps it was redone, I don't know.
Walked into a obviously active Methodist Church that was very nicely redone.
This was also neighborhood that was center of Japanese occupation during War time. This unassuming apartment building was headquarters.
Was a good day for a stroll through the streets soaking it all up. Busy daily life going on all around us. Lunch at an eclectic restaurant on a busy shopping street.
